Paludier de Batz, from Mrs. Bury Palliser’s, and its Byways, 1869 – see pages 13-17.

No. 144 December 2017

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BRO NEVEZ 144

December 2017 ISSN 0895 3074

Editorial EDITOR’S ADDRESS & E-MAIL With this December issue of Bro Nevez I send my best wishes of Lois Kuter, Editor

605 Montgomery Road Ambler, PA 19002 U.S.A. Nedeleg laouen ha bloavezh mat

(215) 886-6361 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year [email protected]   U.S. ICDBL website: www.icdbl.org

State of the

The U.S. Branch of the International Committee for the Ofis Publik ar Brezhoneg (www.brezhoneg.bzh) Defense of the Breton Language (U.S. ICDBL) was continues to serve as an important resource for those incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation on October 20, seeking assistance in locating schools or adult classes, 1981. Bro Nevez ("new country" in the Breton language) is in expanding a public presence for Breton, and in looking the newsletter produced by the U.S. ICDBL. It is published for help with translation and learning resources. Its quarterly: February/March, May/June, August/September website is also an excellent source for basic information and November/December. Contributions, letters to the about the Breton language. The following statistics are Editor, and ideas are welcome from all readers and will be drawn from that website. They are my summary and/or printed at the discretion of the Editor. translation of information (from French). My apologies for any misinterpretations. The U.S. ICDBL provides Bro Nevez on a complimentary basis to a number of language and cultural organizations in Brittany Key Numbers for the Breton Language to show our support for their work. Your Membership/ 206,000 active speakers of Breton (TMO-Fañch Broudic Subscription allows us to do this. Membership (which 2007 survey) includes subscription) for one year is $20. Checks should be in Under 200,000 today’s estimate] U.S. dollars, made payable to “U.S. ICDBL” and mailed to Lois Kuter at the address above. 17,758 children in bilingual school programs - 2017 school year This newsletter can be sent as a PDF file attached to an e- [Diwan, Public schols and Catholic schools] mail instead of, or in addition to, the print version. Just let the Editor know how you would like to receive it. The e-mail By Department: version is much more colorful than the photocopied print Finistère 8,390 copy! Morbihan 4,556 Côtes d’Armor 2,592 Ideas expressed within this newsletter are those of the Ille-et-Vilaine 1,490 individual authors, and do not necessarily represent ICDBL Loire-Atlantique 730 philosophy or policy. Number of students by type of program For information about the Canadian ICDBL contact: Jeffrey D. O’Neill, PO Box 14611, 50 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Public schools 8,009 Catholic school 5,431 M8L-5R3, CANADA (e-mail: [email protected]). Diwan schools 4,318 Telephone: (416) 264-0475.

514 establishments with a bilingual program – 2017

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167 Communes with a primary school bilingual program the pre-school level, a degree of growth not seen for 14 – 2017 years. In contrast, the Catholic schools have not had a development program put into place and have not 8% of pre/primary school establishments in Brittany have suceeded in gaining more than a few new teaching a bilingual program – 2016 school year posts. Diwan has also been challenged in winning new Finistère 16.9% teaching positions and also has the ongoping problem of Morbihan 12.9% finding public locations to open new sites. On top of this, Côtes-d’Armor 7.6% Diwan was hindered this new school year by the Ille-et-Vilaine 3.1% question of new contract funding needs for school aides. Loire-Atlantique 1.4% Also from the Ofis Publik ar Brezhoneg site: Top 10 Breton cities by number of bilingual school students - 2017 The sociolinguistic situation

Rennes 808 Breton was classified by UNESCO as a “language Quimper 715 seriously in danger.” The development of teaching and Brest 649 politcal support from public powers have neverthess Carhaix-Plouguer 572 given positive signs for the future of Breton. Vannes 572 Lannion 545 The evolution of the number of speakers Nantes 539 Landerneau 449 Policies enacted to insure the exclusion of Breton in Plougastel-Daoulas 443 schools at the end of the 19th century (punishment of Lannilis 366 children who spoke it at school) strongly marked spirits and led to a rupture in the transmission of the language. 5,027 students taking a Breton option in the secondary school level – 2016 According to the survey by the INSEE during the 1999 census, 60% of Breton speakers were then over 60 Middle school 4,547 years old. Thus the number of Breton speakers High school 480 estimated at 206,000 in 2007 (TMO survey – Fañch Broudic) is probably siuated today at below 200,000. 7,830 students having an introduction to Breton at the primary school level At the other end of the demographic chain among youth, the numbers are in constant progression.The Diwan 920 college students – 2016 schools created in 1977, complemented by bilingaul 462 in a Breton language track classes in the Public schoiols (Education Natonale) begun in 1982 and the Catholic schools starting in 1990 3555 adult learners - 2016 have seen enrollments grow each year, from the 3,237 in weekly classes preschool through high school levels (up 60% between 318 in intensive 3 or 6 month long training 2006 and 2016). With 17,024 students in the 2016 school year [17,758 in 2017] and planning for the The following is a bit more information from Ofis Publik development of bilingual education undertaken by the ar Brezhoneg for the 2017 school year: Ofis Publik ar Brezhoneg in collaboration with the whole of the education community, the dynamic growth of The Academy (school district) of Rennes is schooling bilingual classes is a very important sign of confidence in 17,028 students in Diwan and the bilingaul public and the future of the language. Thus, the work of the Catholic schools. The Nantes Academy is schooling 730. Observatoire des pratiques linguistiques [of the Ofis This is a gain of 734 students – the strongest gain since Publik] projects that with a sustained development of 2009. Breton teaching, by 2020 to 2025 the percentage of speakers among children under 12 could become 12 new sites were opened in the pre/primary school level greater than that of the population as a whole. By 2040 and 8 new classes were opened at the middle school the number of Breton speakers could make an upward level, breaking the bar of 500 bilingual sites. climb after more than 100 years of decline.

Each of the three school tracks had a rise in students, Today the “generation gap” is found in the 20 to 50 year but the rate in growth varied. The public schools profited olds. But there too, the number of learners has been from the State-Region convention and for the first time rising for weekly classes with 3,233 adults, as well as for since its creation in 1982, ten new classes were opened intensive training sessions for 3 to 6 months. The at the pre/primary school level, with an 8.6% increse at number of students in professional training went over the 3

300 mark in 2015/16, doubling the number since 2010. linguistic heritage. And it is an unecessary burden on To reinforce these tendencies, attention should be given parents who must fight in court for the name – in this to the development of pre-schooling options such as day case with support of the Breton organization Skoazell care and maternal assistants, to insuring continuity in Vreizh who has for many years supported those bilingual teaching through graduation, to the imprisoned or in need of legal defense because of their implementation of complete programs for introducting insistence on being Breton. students to Breton (now involving 14,000 students), to the development of training for adults, and diversification in post-baccalaureate options. Project to Support a Memorial to Nominoë Absence of a legislative statute Work is underway to raise funds The Breton lnaguage has been excluded for a long time for a monument to from the public space and is still the only Celtic language commemorate the victory of without a legislative statute. Nominoë over Frankish King Charles the Bald in 845 at the Thanks to the initiative of local governments and Battle of Ballon, located in organizations, the visibiliy opf the language has been Bains-sur-Oust (near the town much more developed over th past 30 years. Today, in of Redon in eastern Brittany). three dpeartments (Finistère, Morbihan, and the western This victory led to the part of Côtes-d’Armor) bilingual directional signage is recognition of Nominoë as the king of an independent systematicaly done. Communities have equally moved Breton kingdom. The organization Poellgor Gouel Ballon towards bilingualism in signs at the entry and exit of their (www.bretagne845.bzh) has as its aim the promotion of territories. Breton history and the modern sculpture planned as well as a statue of Nominoë will be supplemented with Progressively, other supports have become bilingual: educational information about the site and its importance in Breton history. Directonal signs Road name signs The project is supported by the Cultural Council of Electronic signage Brittany, the Regional Council of Brittany, the Cultural Paper borchures Institute of Brittany as well as local communities and Internet sites. individuals. Additional funds are needed, however to meet the goal of inaugurating the site in May 2018. Finally, the Reginal Council of Brittany was the first Support can be sent via the website www.helloasso.com collective to prepare a plan for lunguistic political action by entering “nominoe” or by sending a check (in euros) in 2004. Its action for the language spans culture, made out to “Memorial fete de Ballon” to Comité pour la transportation, tourism, public buildings … In 2016 the Fête de Ballon, Mairie, 35600 Bains-sur-Oust. Department of Finistère, for its part, became the first department to adopt a linguistic plan. Breizh Amerika now Editor’s Note: While it is true that local government active in San Francisco agencies and the work of Ofis Publik ar Brezhoneg have (www.breizh-amerika.com) been effective in increasing the public presence of

Breton, it is important to note that the militancy of Breton Breizh Amerika maintains language activists was critical in setting a spark to this. an informative website and And continue to protest and commit acts of civil there is no better way to describe this organization than disobedience in areas where the public presence of the by quoting from their website (which is in French, Breton Breton language is woefully lacking and only grudgingly and English): introduced.

Breizh Amerika is a non-profit organization established A case in point … to create, facilitate, promote, and sponsor wide-ranging

innovative and collaborative cultural and economic In September the tribunal of Quimper decided that the projects that strengthen and foster relations and Breton name Fañch could not be registered as the legal cooperation between the United States of America and name for a baby born in May. This was because the ñ is the region of Brittany, . not recognized in the French language. In the interest of

French unity and equality, the name must be spelled Through the development and sponsorship of ambitious Fanch. While this is an aberrant case, it is just one more artistic projects we hope to increase awareness of instance to Bretons being denied the right to their 4

Breton culture, language and film to American The Celtic Social Club. A new Kind audiences. We are guided by a passion to develop of Freedom. 10H10 productions. unique exchanges and collaborations between Breton Called a rock band which originally and American musicians and artists, while inciting formed for a performance at the 2014 economic actors to expand opportunities and build festival Vielles Charrues, this group is durable Transatlantic links through our projects. still at it and draws from the dance and song traditions of Brittany and While much of the work of Breizh Amerika has been Ireland especially. The group on this CD includes initiated in New York City, Bretons in San Francisco, singers Jimme O’neill and Shjane MacGowan with Man California, will launch an active group there with a Masko, Ronanle Bars (uillean pipes), Pierre Stéphan Christmas dinner on December 13, and will actively (fiddle), and Mathieu Péqueriau (harmonica). participate in the May 19-27 festivities for Gouel Breizh. While promoting cultural awareness of the Breton Championnat des Bagadoù, Brest heritage the group will also foster economic exchanges 2017. Bodadeg ar Sonerion between businesses in Brittany and San Francisco. This is a 3-CD set presenting the performance of 15 of Brittany’s top You don’t need to be Breton to become engaged with category bagads at the 2017 Breizh Amerika. Friends of Brittany are most welcome. championship competition (one of two For more information about Breizh Amerika and the new competitions for the best of the best). San Francisco initiative check out the website Cap Caval won this leg of the competition. www.breizh-amerika.com Coeff.4. Du vent dans les cordes. Bernard Hinault at the Cycle Zydeco in Louisiana This CD includes 12 selections of tunes and songs composed and While Breizh Amerika has fostered a number of musical drawn from the traditions of Brittany, and economic exchanges between the U.S. and Brittany, Ireland and Quebec. Musicians they have also been involved in a sportive initiative to making up Coeff.4 are David bring Breton cyclist Bernard Hinault to the annual Cycle Boulange on fiddle and the unique Zydeco race in Louisiana in May 2018 (4 to 8th). Hinault foot percussion of Quebec, Ciàran Somers with flute, has been active with the cycling club “Souffles d’Espoir whistles and uillean pipes of Ireland, and Bretons Contre Le Cancer” to raise money for the cancer center Nicolas Quemener on guitar and vocals, and Gaël Eugène-Marquis in Rennes, and contributions from his Lfévère on bombard and vocals. Louisiana trip will also got to that cause.

If you are a fan of bicycle racing, you will definitely know Pays Montagne – Chanteuses et who Bernard Hinault is. If you don’t know if him, here’s a chanteurs de tradition (1916- summary from Wikipedia: “He is one of only six cyclists 978). La Bretagne des Pays 5. to have won all three Grand Tours, and one of two Dastum. cyclists to have won each more than once (the other The “mountains” of western being Alberto Contador). He won the Tour de France in Brittany are known for the kan-ha- 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1985. He came second diskan response style of singing in 1984and 1986 and won 28 stages, of which 13 used to power the dance of this region, the gavotte. This were individual time trials.” He retired from professional was also the area where the was re-invented in racing in 1986. the 1950s and masters of the Breton song tradition (songs for dance as well as the gwerz or ballad) dusted     off their repertoire and inspired new generations of singers. Produced by Dastum, this double CD includes a Heard of but not heard – 22 New CDs from booklet richly documenting the singers and the songs. Brittany Recordings date from 1916 through the 1970s.

Short notes are draw from information Ar Men Digresk. Kengred. magazine220 (Sept-Oct 2017) and 221 (Nov-Dec 2017) This 3rd album by the group Digresk as well as from the Coop Breizh website. includes a varied selection on Breton dances in what is described as a “trad-electro-rock” style. Dances include polka, circle circassien, hanter-dro, galop nantais, and rond de Loudeac. Also featured is an 11-minute suite plinn in honor of the maritime work done by the Sea Shepherd 5

Conservation Society. And a 9-minute suite fisel Breton traditional repertoire. Here he brings his voice to recognizes the fight for LGBT rights and respect. Great lead songs for Breton dances in collaboration with music for dancing, but also a social message or two! Erwann Tobie on accordion and Heikki Bourgault on guitar. Douar Mor. En public. This is a live recording of a Lunch Noazh. An Droed Naturel. performance by this maritime group Centered around saxophonist Julien from April 2017 in Plescop. The CD Vrigneau, the group Lunch Noazh includes 14 selections of songs newly has a soul, jazz, and funk beat. This composed and drawn from a variety CD include 21 selections of tunes and of the world’s maritime traditions. melodies with songs in the Breton language. Eostiged ar Stangala. Didermen. Based in Quimper, the dance group Lyra, Lyra Eostiged ar Stangala has been This group is composed of six performing since 1948 and they are musicians - Antoine Péran, Pierre known for their highly innovative Droual, Aziz Ouertani, Youssef Ben choreography of Breton dances. This Dhifallah, Ilyas Raphaël Khan and CD presents 4 suites of music with Parveen Sabrina Khan – who pool 17 selections (66+ minutes in all). their talents and musical roots in Brittany, India and Tunesia. Bretons have never been hesitant to Jean Chalres Guichen. Breizh an collaborate in very interesting ways with musicians of Ankou. other cultures and here is yet one more example of how Guitarist J-C Guichen pays homage great music can come from such meetings. to Breton dance (laride, gavotte, an dro, plinn…) in a series of 16 Menguy-Bérenguer, Spring Days. selections. Besides the guitar of Jean Klam Records. Charles Guichen, musicians include This is the first CD by this duo Claire Mocquard on fiddle and vocals, Olivier Carole on composed of flute player Erwan bass, Mickael Bourdois on percussion, Sylvain Barou on Menguy and guitarist Erwan flute and uillean pipes, and the Bagad Sonerien Bro Bérenguer. The wooden flute is not a Dreger. Dan ar Braz adds electric guitar on one selection ”traditional” instrument for Brittany, but has become so in and Denez brings vocals to another. the past decades as Bretons master it to interpret Breton music. Most start by mastering Irish music with this

instrument and most of the selections on this CD are Yvan Guillevic and Anne Sorgues, drawn from Ireland. However a suite of Balkan dances Do it your way. as well as a suite of Breton tunes are also included. This CD includes 10 songs – in

English – composed and arranged by Duo Hamon-Martin and Annie Yvan Guillevic and Anne Sorgues. Ebrel. Fest-Noz Symphonique. The style is described as a uniting of This ambitious performance features jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues, with traditional Breton dance with the pop sound of the Beatles and the blues of Eric symphonic orchestral performance. Clapton or Jeff Beck with a touch of Pink Floyd. Guitarist This original creation was composed Yvan Guillevic brings the pop/rock/blues edge while by Erwan Hamon (flute and bombard) and Janick Martin Anne Sorgues, singer and choir leader of Gospel (accordion) and was arranged by orchestra by Morbihan, brings the jazz and gospel swing. They are Frédérique Lory and Grégory Dargent (who adds electric joined by drummer Patrick Boileau, pianist Frank Le guitar). Annie Ebrel brings her mastery of traditional Masle and bass players Bernard Clémence and Breton language song and Antonin Volson adds Dominique Braud. percussion. The Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne is

under the baton of Aurélien Azan Zielinski. Nine Yann-Fañch Kemener Trio. Dañs ! selections include a melody (Al lann melen), ridée in 6, Coop Breizh CD1121. scottish, plinn suite, cercle circassien, kas a barh, and Yann-Fañch Kemener is famous in gavotte. Brittany (and beyond) as a master of

traditional Breton language ballads and song for dances. And he has partnered with a number of musicians for always-interesting arrangements of the 6

‘Ndiaz. Son ‘Rod. Paker Production Valier. Le Grand Frison. L’Eglise de This is the second album by this “fest la petite folie. noz band” who also explore complex Patrick Chevalier (Valier) was active melodies, drawing from Breton on the Rennes music scene with the tradition as well as musics of Turkey, group Complot Bronswick, but here Libya, Brazil or Romania. With roots gives us a solo CD with French song, in the Kreiz Breizh Akademi, they rock and electro-acoustic favor modal sounds and an improvisational style. The compositions. And the CD includes a performance of the group includes Youn Kamm on trumpet, Timothée Le traditional Breton ballad Evit bevañ gan levernez. Bour on saxophone, Yann Le Corre on accordion, and Jérôme Kerihuel on percussions, with guest artists Jean-Michel Veillon and Yvon Riou. François Corneloup baritone sax) and Nicolas Krasik. Deus an Aod d’ar Menez. VPC Productions. Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs. Breizh While both of these well-known Anok. Du-man haDu-hont. musicians of Brittany have remained Any photo of this band will active over many years, it has been a immediately identify them as “punk,” while since they have recorded as a but this is a band that combines a duo – Jean-Michel Veillon on wooden flute and Yvon rock sound with biniou-bombard, and Riou on guitar. They draw from the traditional dances on this CD (as with others) they bring and melodies of Brittany for these finely tuned in the Bagad Bro Kemperle for added punch. And as arrangements. usual, traditional singer is on board as well, giving her voice and high energy to a selection for dance Les artistes breton contre le called “Pach Punk.” cancer. 19 selections from a variety of Breton . 70 ans … à l’Ouest. artists – of varying styles – to benefit Coop Breizh CD1123 Halte au Cancer. Performers are Dan For his 70th birthday, singer-song ar Braz, Denez, Soldat Louis, Gilles writer Gilles Servat has recorded a Servat, Gérard Jaffrès, Ronan Le CD which includes a number of Bars, Didier Squiban, Louis Capart, Gwennyn, Yvon songs from his long career – Etienne, Les Mat-lots du Vent, Maestral Quartet, Laurie rearranged and augmented in many Guillou, À Virer, Les P’tits Yeux, Les Marins d’Iroise, cases. With texts in both French and Breton (with a few Clarisse Lavanant, Les Gourlazous and Nautilis. verses in Gallo) the CD includes his own compositions as well as texts by Breton poets (René Guy Cadou, Yann Ber Kalloc’h and Anjela Duval). A New Book about Breton Music

Soldat Louis. Quelques nouvelles Desi Wilkinson, Call to the Dance – du front An Experience of the Socio-Cultural This very popular rock band, Soldat World of Traditional Breton Music Louis, celebrates its 30 years of and Dance. Wendy Hilton Dance and performance in 2018 with a new CD Music (Series No.18) of 13 previously unreleased titles. The group includes electric guitars, In mastering fiddle, uillean pipes, and , snare drum, banjo, keyboard, fiddle, uillean the wooden flute, Bretons have delved into the traditional pipes … and lots of voices (in French). music of Ireland and there have been many exchanges between the two countries. While the fiddle is traditional Trio Tartare. Ventouere. to some areas of Britany, the flute and uillean pipes are 12 selections of dances including kost not. This has not stopped dozens (hundreds?) of Breton ar c’hoat, hanter-dro, pile menu, musicians from using these instruments to interpret both gavotte, scottisch, kas a barh, avant- Irish and Breton music – traditional and more newly deux … and others. Notes from Coop composed. Breizh indicate that this is a trio of three wind-players, but I could not This new book is by Irish flute player Desi Wilkinson who find out more. While a Google search is usually great in lived in Brittany from 1992 to 1994, learning and playing finding more information mine took me only to food Breton music. He also has a foot in the academic world recipes! with studies in Ethnomusicology, so this is not simply a memoir of good-times in Brittany, but offers an analysis

7 of music and its social context. The book explores book was published in 1545. From the previous periods changes in Breton culture between 1970 and 2010. The there are only a few sentences, lists of words and one or 70s and early 80s were a period when Breton music was two letters” he says. From older periods there are a few taking off as singers and musicians explored traditional words dispersed in Roman texts, some peoples’ names roots and there was an explosion of new bands or place names. It was not until the beginning of the 18th especially for dances at festoù noz. As both a musician century that the first dictionary and the first grammar and scholar, this book is sure to offer an interesting were published. perspective on Breton music and its performance. It was absolutely necessary to create a standard written The book was launched in Ireland (Dublin and Belfast) in language to enable people who mainly spoke dialects to early December. understand one another. It was a hard work throughout the 20th century. This unified language was first used in ABER Literary Review literature, at school and in the media. Gradually, its use www.aber-bzh.info became general so that there are thousands of people using it in the Basque country today. In the June 2017 issue of Bro Nevez this Breton literary review was introduced and we have been invited to Basque language has a vast and strong literature with continue to reprint abstracts from it. To reintroduce many high-level writers and translators; however the ABER, it was created in 2000 and has been directed by status of the language remains very fragile: if the Pierette Kermoal with a number of Breton writers number of people speaking the language increases as it contributing to each quarterly issue with original works did in the last 40 years, it would take 200 years for as well as translations from other languages. Its everyone to speak it in the Basque country. objective is “to foster literary creation and criticism and in a broader sense intellectual life in Breton. ABER aims at Italy: Primo Levi and the prison of languages expressing the world in a Breton perspective.” Primo Levi (1919-1987), an Italian Jew born in Turin, was deported in 1944 to the Monowitz concentration Reproduced here is a selection called “The garden of camp. Among the difficulties the deportees had to face, languages,” by Jorj Abherve-Gwegen, from the Autumn the Italians had one more: the language. The well-known 2017 issue of the journal (No. 69) writer explained in an interview in1983 that there were only a few Italian-speakers in the camp where he had Liorzh ar yezhoù (The garden of languages) been sent, a hundred people out of ten thousands. Consequently, it was impossible to communicate with The English domain: English, the language of the elite. the other deportees: he didn’t understand them and they In the French daily newspaper Le Monde (2016-07-11), didn’t understand him. And among the Italians almost no Yves Eudes wrote in an article that it is not just ordinary one was able to speak the German or Polish language people who voted for the Brexit, but also many Britons and only a few spoke French. This linguistic solitude was belonging to the international elite. The English-speaking especially cruel because in the concentration camps world, is the world of their own and as they are used to keeping social links was the best way to survive. travelling days and nights across this area, they really do not care where they live. They feel at home in London, As Sephardic Jews, the Italians couldn’t speak Yiddish San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, New York, or even in either. Thus they were rejected by the Eastern Jews who Dublin. These rich or famous people form, united, considered them as foreigners. In fact they were cohesive and enduring anglo communities in European foreigners among foreigners! They felt as weak as Greek capitals and don’t want to integrate the culture of the Jews, even weaker, because Jews Saloniki had had to people that welcome them. harden by contact with the Greek orthodox population, which was not the case of the Italian Jews. Basque Country: the evolution of the Basque language, from the Middle Ages to the present day. A handbook intended to learn Basque language has just A Few Notable Bretons of the 19th & 20th been published: Ni lernu l eŭskan (Let’s learn Basque Century – Part 4 language). One of the authors of this work is the Basque writer Ator Arana, who had already published a Basque- From: Jean-Loup Avril, Mille Bretons – Dictionnaire Esperanto/Esperanto-Basque dictionary in 2015. Biographique. 2nd edition. Portes du Large. 2013

In the preface he wrote for Ni lernu la eŭskan, he As I did for the last few issues of Bro Nevez, I am provides an overview of the history of the Basque continuing here to include short biographical notes about language and its situation nowadays. There is no trace Bretons who have contributed to the Breton language of a written literature during the Middle Ages. “The first and culture. The three included here were all Breton

8 language writers born near the turn of the 20th century. Roparz Hemon (Louis Nemo) References cited are those of the author. These are my translations and I take all responsibility for any Breton writer and philologist. Born in Brest November misinterpretations that might be found. – Lois Kuter 18, 1900; deceased in Dublin June 29, 1978. Admitted to the teaching post of English in 1924, he was a professor Abeozen (Fañch Elies) at the high school of Brest when he created a cultural quarterly supplement in 1925 for the journal Breiz Atao. Breton writer. Born in Saint-Sauveur, south of Morlaix, In 1926 this supplement, published in the Breton February 20, 1896; deceased in La Baule, June 3, 1963. language, became independent and came out monthly, Professor on the Faculty of Letters and friend of Roparz taking the name Gwalarn (northwest). Not a Breton- Hemon, he was also a linguist and specialist of Welsh. speaker by birth, from his adolescence on he devoted He participated in the edition of Breizh Atao. He himself to a study of Breton with passion. Roparz published theater piece and novels: Hervelina Geraouell Hemon’s action was focused on a renewal of the Breton and Dremm an ankou. Mabinogion is his translation into language, an elaboration of a unified orthography, and Breton of epic Welsh tales. an adaptation of vocabulary by creating new words based on the roots of the language. One owes to him the References: Cours élémentaire de breton, complemented by a Lukian Raoul, Geriadur ar skrivagnerien ha yezhourien. Grammaire élémentaire. His Petit dictionnaire pratique Brest, Al Liamm. 1992. 432 pages. breton-français (1929) has had several editions. Among Gwendal Denez, Fañch Elies Abeozen, sa vie, son his numerous works in Breton we cite: An Aotrou œuvre. Doctoral thesis. Rennes. 1992. 3 volumes. Bimbochet e Breizh (1925), Alanig an Tri Roue (1950), An Ti a Drizek Siminal (1956), Ar Tri Boulomig Kalon Loeiz Andouard Aour (1961), Mari Vorgan (1962), Tangi Kerviler (1971) and Nenn Jani (1974). Breton writer. Born in Binic (Côtes d’Armor) June 16, 1904; deceased in Lamballe June 14, 1985. Son of a During the 1939-45 war, Roparz Hemon was secretary customs officer, Louis (Loeiz) Andouard entered the for broadcasts of Radio-Bretagne controlled by the École Nationale de la Marine Marchandise of St. Malo Occupant [Germany] who hoped to see linguistic and in1921. He navigated for the Compagnie Havraise nationalist demands develop. He was also president of Péninsulaire and obtained his captain’s license for ocean the Institut Celtique. In 1944 he fled to Germany and vessels. Put out of work due to the economic crisis of was judged in 1946. He went to Ireland where he 1931, he became a journalist for La Voix du Marin pursued his linguistic studies and became a professor at published by the association created by Père Lebret and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. In 1947 he the sea captain Ernest Lamont of Cancale. From 1935 to published La language bretonne et ses combats (The 1939 he was the head of the Secrétariat Social Maritime Breton language and its combats), considered the best de Bretagne. study on this subject.

A friend of Yann Sohier, Loeiz Andouard mastered the References: Breton language and Gaelic, and published many Fañch Elies Abeozen. Istor lenegezh vrezhonek an articles in Breton journals – studies and translations. In amzer-vremañ. Brest 1957. 251 pages. 1940 Roparz Hemon appointed him director of the Collective. Roparz Hemon. Dalc’homp Soñj. 1990. journal Arvor. In 1943 he joined the central committee for pages 6-15. maritime fishing in Paris where he remained until 1969, Henri Fréville. “Archives secrètes de Bretaqne 1940- retiring to Pléhérel. He then consecrated all his time to 1944“, Rennes. Ouest-France. 1985. 216 pages. the Breton language. One owes to him Brezhoneg ar Fañch Morvannou. “Un demi-sècle au service du mor, a French-Breton dictionary of maritime vocabulary, breton : Roparz Hemon, “ in Histoire littéraire et a biography of Jacques Cartier in Breton, a Breton- culturelle de la Bretagne. Paris-Genève, Champion- Irish/Irish-Breton dictionary, as well as an anthology of Slatkine. 1982. 3rd volume, pages 205-216. contemporary Gaelic literature. His daughters gifted his library of Breton and Celtic materials to the City of From the Editor: A Bit of Explanation Rennes. While Roparz Hemon can be considered one of the most References: (if not the most) important scholars and writers of and in Ouest-France, July 31, 1985. the Breton language, he has served as a lightening rod – Yann Bouëssel du Bourg, “Loeiz Andouard,“ Dalc’homp long after his death - for politicians and others who want Soñj no. 13. 1985. Pages 29-38. to brand Breton nationalists and efforts to promote Lukian Raoul, Geriadur ar skrivagnerien ha yezhourien. Breton language and culture as Nazi collaboration. Brest, Al Liamm. 1992. 432 pages. Schools and cultural centers named in his honor have

9 been pressured to drop his name – a case in point being repressive measures taken against all Breton a Diwan middle school in 2000. Not the last effort to nationalists after the liberation of France in the summer discredit his legacy. Hemon did not take up arms with of 1944. In November 1944, in one single week, 1,000 the Bezen Perrot, but accompanied them when they Bretons were arrested. Most of them were soon able to retreated to Germany, returning after a year to Paris prove that they were innocent of any collaborationist where he served time in jail. He was acquitted at a trial activity and were released, but eight members of the in June 1946 of collaboration with the enemy. Bezen Perrot were executed for treason. The pro- Nevertheless, he was condemned to 10 years of German leaders of the Breton Nationalist Party had “national indignity” (see the explanation below) managed to escape abroad; they were tried in absentia and sentenced to death. Others were given long jail The history of World War II and the role of Bretons in sentences. Many members of the Nationalist Party had collaboration with Germany as well as in the Resistance to spend several months in jail before coming to trial. is a complex and painful topic, and myths persist. The Most were sentenced to several years of indignité following summary of the impact this history has had on nationale, which was tantamount to the loss of all civil the Breton language was written by Reun ar C’halan rights – e.g., the right to vote and to hold office, the right (René Galand) – who served in the Resistance - in an to be a lawyer or teacher, the right to run a bank or to article “Poets and Politics: The Revival of Nationalism in publish a newspaper. The repression was so harsh that Breton Poetry since World War II” (World Literature the British government, prompted by the Welsh Today, Vol. 54(2), Spring 1980). I take the liberty of members of Parliament, felt compelled to lodge a protest including a section of this article here since it provides with the French authorities. useful context to understand the stigma that has remained attached to work to promote the Breton language and culture. - LK

It is impossible to discuss Breton literature today [1980] without mentioning politics. Choosing the Breton language as one’s literary medium is in itself a political act. Most Breton writers see themselves as soldiers waging a desperate battle against an alien power bent on suppressing their ethnic identity. Their efforts, over the past third of a century, have greatly suffered from the grievous mistakes made by the generation of Breton nationalists which preceded them. By the late 1930s the leadership of the Breton Nationalist Party had passed Deep inside a Breton skull into the hands of men ready to use any means to 54 – The old woman of Broceliande achieve their goal of an independent Brittany, totally separated from France. Like the Irish rebels of 1916 who had sought German help against British authority, they (A tale from my book -in French- “Inquiries about the turned to Nazi Germany for support. Their hopes were Merlin’s prophecies”) soon disappointed. After the French defeat of June 1940, the German government found it more expedient to deal Jean Pierre LE MAT with the collaborationist Vichy government of Marshal Pétain. By the end of 1940 the Breton Nationalist Party In my youth, I was good-looking and proud. I was rich had split into two factions: the majority, under the and powerful. Great lords moved away from my path as I direction of opportunistic leaders, attempted to negotiate passed. They glanced at me. When I was just near at first with the Vichy government and, at a later date but them, they spoke in a low voice. to no avail, with the Anglo-American Allies. The pro- German minority still placed its hope in a final German I have been a beautiful woman; today I am old and victory. Its military organization, the Bezen Perrot, alone. The maids and the little servants who watched followed the retreating German armies to the bitter end. over all my wishes are gone. Now, when I have no more fire, I have to go in the forest to gather dry wood. Neither faction, however, took into account the true Nobody comes to help me, nobody cares. I am alone feelings of the Breton people, who were among the first and my beauty is gone. to respond en masse to the call of General de Gaulle. Bretons were soon to make up half of the Free French I was rich and powerful. My father was a lord of high Forces and a third of the Résistance. Only a handful of extraction. Our family comes from Hoël le Third and our Bretons, on the other hand, actually enlisted in the ancestors were linked to Salaün, the great king of the Bezen Perrot; seventy-two at the most. Their action had Bretons. We possessed lands, from Dol to Ploërmel. dire consequences: it served as a justification for the 10

Ralph was not a Breton; he was born from a dynasty of I raised my son in the Breton tradition. I saw in his eyes Saxon kings ... the flower of youth sprouting. How happy I was! He played in the gorse and the swamps. He wore on his When my father married me to Ralph, Alan III, Duke of forehead a light of purity. I cherished him tenderly. Brittany, was my witness. So was also Knut, King of England and Denmark. I had two kings for witnesses. My Raoul grew up. I saw the pride of his race rising in his pride knew no bounds. That day, Knut and Alan gave to heart, my own pride. I saw the hand of a god above his Ralph the Kadwallader's sword, sharp and black. The young head and I shivered, as the mothers shiver. I saw earls and barons offered us precious gifts. The my son becoming a man and getting tough. I wanted to mac’htierns, with the last fires of the Armorican clans in scream. I wanted to curse. But I smiled at my dear son. I their eyes, smiled at us. A delegation of Welsh scholars kept for myself the pain tearing my heart. I suffered at brought us a damascened book, adorned with rich birth and I suffer for him again. God, the fate you have illuminations. The warriors and wise men of the two set for mothers is terrible. Britains surrounded us. I never saw such a feast. I remember that night of terror, when it was revealed to Ralph was King Knut's best warrior. His red hair was like me that Raoul would go away from me. The embers fire; his look was a sword blade. The little skinny princes were glowing in the fireplace. Outside, the rain hit the called him Ralph the Staller. It is true that he shared with stone walls like javelins. Lightning flashes illuminated the his horses a strange friendship. trees twisted by the wind. Thunder covered familiar noises. I imagined the saraband of the damned souls in My father gave me to Ralph. I was proud to be the wife the forest; I looked at my man and at my son. Like every of such a man. night, Ralph was reading the Welsh book. In the light of the flames, I looked at his face. His eye sockets were He went to war against the Norwegians. At the peak of empty, like those of a dead man. I panicked. I shouted, the fight, his giant size dominated the pack. His war cry but no one heard me. As I fled out of the room, I felt filled his enemies with horror. He was the first to plunge Raoul's look on my back, like a dagger. I took refuge in his sword into the bowels of the Norwegians. He was the the old tower. Throughout the night I sobbed, curled up last to leave the battlefield after killing the wounded against the damp wall. enemies. The fugitives carried with them, engraved inside their skull, the fear of meeting this terrifying In the early morning, when the storm had calmed down, I colossus once again. heard rumors in the stable. Ralph was saddling his horse. When he left the castle, I saw through a slit of the When Edward acceded to the throne of England, Ralph rampart that he was armed for war. Near him rode kept the honors due to his rank. But he remained Raoul, my son. taciturn. He did not like the bigotry and intrigues of the new court. The devotees murmured that it was him who That morning, a foreign soldier was found dead near the killed the very Christian Olaf Haraldsson, King of fountain of Barenton. His chest had been pierced by a Norway. His companions told me that it is true that he spear and he was drained of blood. bore the banner of King Knut during the great battle. Raoul returned seven days later, armed with Ralph did not like Christians. Our stays in Brittany, in my Kadwallader's sword. He was smiling and he had domain of Gael, became more and more frequent. soothing words for me. For a few years, he was a caring son, watching over my health and my desires. I realized Ralph spent long days riding alone in the forest of that Ralph would not come back to live here anymore, Broceliande. He watched woodsmen and robbers there. and that Raoul had become the new lord of Broceliande. None would have dared to lay hands on him, even if they had caught him in his sleep, at the foot of a lonely tree. Great news came to us, I remember, in the year 1065 He hunted wild beasts tirelessly, fulfilling a hidden need. after the birth of the Lord. William the Bastard, Duke of One day, he told me that he met an old druid, who Normandy, was preparing a warlike expedition against revealed to him secrets of the forest. Without knowing England. Raoul could not contain his excitement. I why, I was scared. I cried secretly. wondered if, in order to preserve our possessions on the island, he was going to side with the Saxons. A few I found happiness with my young son Raoul. When I look months earlier, William ravaged part of Brittany. at the mothers rocking and kissing their babies, warm Although our domains had been spared, the Normans memories come back to me. I, too, rocked and kissed were our enemies. my dear son. I sang songs to put him to sleep. As I sang, I watched his eyelids closing and I was exulting in my Raoul gathered our vassals and the old companions of young heart. his father. To my astonishment, he suggested to join 11

Guillaume. To my second astonishment, they all before. Like the Knights of Arthur, I dived into the great accepted enthusiastically. There was a mystery there adventure, watching for the signs that the Divine Guide that I did not understand then. Raoul left with his troop. would send to me. He was beautiful. Kadwallader's sharp, black sword was with him. All day I wandered in the forest, looking for a clue. I hunted and I fished. I searched the ruins of the castle. The news that came to me were similar to those which One autumn evening, I discovered the Welsh book in a came to me thirty-five years ago, when Ralph was chest crushed under a big stone. I grabbed it and for fighting against the Norwegians. Raoul had inherited three days my hand shook. Since then, when night has from his father a colossal stature, and a blazing and come, I read the book. taciturn mind. In the incandescent melting pot of battles, he dominated the bloody pack. His war cry, like that of I have become wild. A too curious brigand approached his father, sowed terror among the Saxons. one morning from my shelter. He wanted to see the crazy Barenton woman. Long before he came near me, I William offered him, as a reward for his deeds, not the grabbed my bow. With an arrow, I pierced his forehead. open crown of an earl or a baron, but the closed crown Then I unsheathed my knife. As if Ralph was guiding my of a king. He offered him one of the richest kingdoms on hand, I engraved on his body, which was still fluttering the island, East Anglia. Raoul found his father there. I and bleeding, the sign of the horned snake. The next was told that they greeted each other as if they never day, his companions came to get his body. From a were separated. distance, I watched them. Fear distorted their faces. I was jubilant with their terror. Formerly, I was a gentle They organized their lands as warriors. True, East- and nice woman. I was a tender mother. I have become Anglia was the shield of the island against the attacks of wild. the Norwegians. William could only praise them for their carefulness, although it seemed excessive. I undertook It was in the Welsh book that I discovered, little by little, to join them. I was so eager! The great wind of the sea as a veil rising subtly, the answer I was looking for. was good for me. When I arrived there, my husband and Merlin's prophecies announced the reconquest of Britain my son welcomed me with joy. With them I met the new and the defeat of the Saxons. Through victory will dignitaries of the island. I also saw some former appear a new Arthur, a Breton and not a Norman administrators who had kept their estates and offices at bastard. The Cornish lineage of the first Arthur ended court. with Kadwallader. Then would succeed an Armorican lineage. I understood confusedly my wedding, the tired Relationships took up all my time. After the loneliness of smile of the mac'htierns, the journey of Welsh scholars, Broceliande, I got drunk with relations. I frequented the destiny that God had fixed on Raoul, my son. My William's court. Meanwhile, Ralph and Raoul were heart swelled to the breaking point. always on the roads of their kingdom. They rode with their lieutenants, visited villages and bastions. They I wander all day in the forest. I hunt and drink the water governed their domains with an iron fist, making sure to from the fountain. I read the book. I have been alone for maintain obedience everywhere. They never left their so long. The memory of my joy fades as the seasons are weapons. Around them were Welsh and Breton passing superbly above the collapsed walls of the castle. mercenaries, fierce and ready to strike. Around me the gorse grows and invades the ruins. I am alone and waiting. After one year there, I realized that my presence was becoming heavy to them. I left the swamps of East Every year, on the first Anglia, I greeted my friends of the royal court. I went day of the black month, back to Broceliande. a messenger brings me news. He arrives at Everything had changed. In the absence of the lords of dusk. He ties his horse Broceliande, the brigands had become bold. They to the big beech tree. He attacked the Barenton castle and looted its riches. The takes off his helmet, villagers organized their own defense. My return finds his way among the comforted them. They allowed me to live in the ruins of scree and comes the castle, blaming my stubbornness. towards me with a slow step. He tells me his I wanted to stay here. Nothing could change my mind. I message in an impassive voice. He does not look wanted to understand the spell that was put on us. I around, he does not ask questions about me. He speaks wanted to ward off the fate of my family. Misfortune of the deeds of Raoul, Lord of Broceliande and Breton compelled me to break the mystery. Now, I had a Armorican. When his speech is finished, I realize that the chance to contemplate what I was not able to see night is here, probably for a long time. He puts on his 12 helmet, he unfastens his horse. He goes into the bastions, among these the mighty Monmouth Castle. darkness. Raoul appealed to the men of the North and assembled a great Viking expedition. Two hundred drakkars During his first visit, the knight told me that Raoul had followed my son. They failed to break the Norman challenged King William on behalf of the Bretons, in the defenses. name of history written in books written by the hand of God. He showed to the king that his role as conqueror Now it is the first day of the black month. Night falls. I was temporary. In the sacred books, it is written that hear the footsteps of a horse. It's not the messenger. William will lead a people dressed in wood and iron Now is coming a huge man. His armor is soiled. Under corsets who will give back their homes to the first the iron, clothes are torn. I knew him right away. inhabitants of the island. But now the Red Dragon has to launch its victorious offensive. Under the Normans' He tied his horse to the big beech tree. He found his way armors, the great Serpent was about to arise. And he among the ruins and he came slowly towards me. Before would give the coup de grace to the White Dragon. he removed his helmet, before he showed me his face, I recognized the high stature of my beloved son. He sat William was not surprised. He gathered his expedition next to me, without saying anything. under the flag of the Red Dragon. It is why the Breton knights joined him. He knew the rough warriors of I remember his features. I know his gestures. He Brittany. He fought against them. He knew that the remains silent. The flames dance. The heat of the fire dream of reconquest haunted their hearts. Their help makes him feel good. was precious to him. He knew that one day, despite the gifts and promises, the most impatient of them would I look at him and silently. I repeat his name, the name of challenge him. my son. Every day my heart bled and today it is bleeding again. Raoul is back. He is near me. He will not be the The battles were bitter and confused. Men of the North great hero whom the finger of God will point to the landed in East Anglia. William did not know exactly Bretons. Raoul was defeated. He says nothing. He does whether the Bretons were fighting with them or against not look at me. My heart is bruised and I am tired from them. The Breton lords followed their old war traditions having cried so much. Continuously, I repeat the name and refused to fight in open ground. They sowed terror of my beloved son, I revive my pain. and death in villages and garrisons. Raoul's warriors struck, burned, disappeared. Yet, deep down in my sorrow, I find my consolation. I know my son was not unworthy of the Red Dragon. One In the second year, the messenger told me about day, the fight will victorious. Ralph's death. He told me that his memory would remain in the hearts of all Britons. He spoke to me during a long And I know that in the fury of the battles, his sword time about Ralph. His eyes were shining. heavy with blood, foaming with sweat, screaming his formidable power, he had the beauty of the lion. After his departure, I remained awake all night, mechanically stirring the embers of the fire with a stick. I knew that Ralph was dead. I knew it well. For several months, I felt his powerful breath in a wind here. The mortal wind had crossed the sky and echoed between the stars, and finally it rested on our old stones. This wind of shadows and memories weighed on my neck and shoulders. Ralph and his horses are haunting the forest roads of Broceliande.

In the sixth year, the messenger told me that Raoul took refuge in the country of the Danes. That year, I did not know more. When the messenger turned his back I Travel in Brittany in 1869 almost screamed, but my voice died in my throat. For a year I hunted with the night in my heart. My mortal For the past few issues I have been featuring excerpts arrows whistled ominously between the trunks of the tall from George Wharton Edwards, Brittany and the Bretons trees. (1910). In this issue of Bro Nevez we go back a bit in time to 1869 with a description of the Loire River area – The following year, the messenger told me that Raoul St. Nazaire, Croisic, Guérande, and the salt marshes of returned to Britain. He married the daughter of William Batz. As is customary in travel writing of this period the Fitz Osbern, one of the greatest lords of the kingdom. In author throws in bits of history with a description of his domains and at the Welsh borders, he built several scenery and costumes. 13

Fanny Bury Palisser (1805-1878) was the daughter of the Walsh family, originally from Ireland. They had Joseph Marryat of Wimbledon, England, and Charlotte shared the wandering fortunes of Charles II., returned Frederic Geyer of Boston. She married Captain Richard with him at the Restoration to find the greater part of Bury in 1832 and lived well beyond his death in 1852. their property confiscated; but they did not hesitate to They had six children. She is best known for her history sacrifice the rest when James II. abdicated the throne, of lace and this book on Brittany seems to be her only and a Walsh commanded the ship which carried the travel account. King to France. Sent on a secret mission to England, he was recognized, denounced, and arrested. James II. Mrs. Bury Palliser. Brittany and its byways – Some created him an Earl at St. Germain. Two of his sons had account of its inhabitants and its antiquities during a retired to St. Malo and Nantes, and engaged in residence in that country. 1869. London: John Murray. commercial speculations, endeavouring thereby to Pages 228-246 restore the fortunes of their house. Commerce was strictly forbidden to the Breton nobles; but, when war or We descended the Loire by steamer, passing by vast misfortune had reduced their fortunes, they were allowed granite buildings, built as magazines for colonial imports, to enter into commerce, or any other profession, without called Les Salorges, in front of which the horrible derogating from their rank, provided they first deposited noyades of Carrier took place, and these warehouses their swords with the Parliament, to be again claimed served as a temporary place of confinement for the when their circumstances were improved. All will victims. We next steamed past the island of Indret, the remember the anecdote in the 'Sentimental Journey.' As great manufacture of steam-engines for the State. Here a book, called 'The State of Nobility in Brittany,' we landed some market women, in caps of the same published in 1681, sets forth: "When nobles are engaged form, with high combs, as those of clear muslin worn by in commerce, their noble blood sleeps; but when the the Nantaises, only of a coarse material, and edged with derogatory works are over, it revives. It is never lost but black. On the right was Couëron, where Duke Francis II. in death." died in consequence of a fall from his horse. The battle of St. Aubin-du-Cormier had decided his fate and that of But to return to the Walsh family. One of the brothers his daughters,—a humiliation from which he never had embarked the remains of his little fortune in the recovered. His faithful friend Rieux, who commanded his business of "armateur"—a kind of shipowner, or one who army, defeated by the youthful Louis de la Trémouille; fits out and charters ships, and sometimes commands the chivalrous Louis of Orleans, a prisoner in an iron them himself—the profession of Jean Bart and Duguay cage in the "Grosse Tour" at Bourges; and the safety of Trouin. * It was to this Anthony Walsh, and a banker of his daughters at the mercy of King Charles VIII., or Dunkirk, that Prince Charles addressed himself to fit out worse, of his imperious sister, the Regent Anne de an old worm-eaten seventy-gun man-of-war, the Beaujeu, who would have committed some act of 'Elizabeth,' they had just obtained from Government for spoliation, had not the Chancellor Rochefort saved the his expedition. True to the hereditary loyalty of his family, duchy by his integrity, declaring to Anne that "a Mr. Walsh not only devoted all he possessed to the conqueror without right is but an illustrious robber." armament of the frigate, but also fitted out a brig, called the 'Doutelle'—both intended as privateers to cruise At Les Pellerins, barges were loading with hay, and against the English—and took the command of her heaps of it standing on the river's edge ready for himself. On the 28th June, 1745, furnished with about embarkation. On the left bank is Paimbœuf, where 4000l. of money, Charles Edward embarked on the diligences run to Pornic, a favourite little watering-place Loire, in a fisherman's boat, to join the 'Doutelle' at St. south of the Loire. Nazaire, and the 'Elizabeth' at Belle-Isle. He passed for a young Irish priest, and wore the habit of a student of St. Nazaire is a bustling seaport town, now the point of the Scots' College at Paris. The ships encountered an departure of the transatlantic steamers for the West English man-of-war, the 'Lion.' At the sound of the first Indies and Mexico. A Mexican, in his picturesque shot, the Prince rushed on deck and asked for a sword. costume, all the seams of his dress fringed with hanging Mr. Walsh, by virtue of his authority as captain, took him silver buttons, was living in the same hotel with by the arm and said to him sternly, "M. Abbé, your place ourselves. St. Nazaire has now a large floating basin, is not here; go below with the passengers." The Prince opened in 1858, capable of holding 200 ships of large obeyed, night separated the combatants, and on the size, and another is in course of construction. 18th of July he was safely landed in . On Michaelmas Day, the following year, the disasters of It was from St. Nazaire that Prince Charles, the young Culloden again threw him an exile on the shores of Pretender, sailed on the adventurous expedition of '45, Brittany. furnished with a frigate and a ship of the line by Mr. Walsh, of Nantes. Among the noble cavaliers who had From St. Nazaire we took a carriage for Guérande, to sacrificed everything to follow the Stuarts into exile was visit that remarkable district called the Canton de Croisic, and consisting chiefly of that place and the Bourg de 14

Batz. We first came to Escoublac, a corruption of on the surface resembles a kind of white cream, and Episcopi lacus, deriving its name from a lake belonging exhales an agreeable perfume resembling violets. This to the bishop of the diocese. is the finest salt; that which falls to the bottom of the salt- pan is of a greyish cast. The salt when formed is then The old town has been entirely buried by the moving scraped off, drained, and the women collect it and stack sands which have blown over it, and, in 1779, its it on the "bossis" into conical heaps, which they cover inhabitants transferred their houses to the present site. with a coating of clay, to render them impervious to Hills of sand surround it in every direction. weather. In the salting season, the salt marshes with their innumerable hillocks of white salt have the Here we left the high road, and turned off to the left to appearance of a vast tent-covered camp. Each "œillet" Poulignan, a little white bay, as its name implies; a produces about 150 lbs. of salt. The same salt-pans are charming retreat, with beautiful white sands and worked from century to century by the same "paludiers" picturesque rocks. This is a favourite watering-place with or their descendants. The proprietors may change, but the Nantais. Its whole population appeared to be in the the workmen remain, considering the salt-pans their water. A row of small wooden châlets are built along the prescriptive inheritance. For payment, they receive one- shore for the bathers, no machines are used. fourth of the salt.

The dress of the paludier is a smock-frock of irreproachable whiteness, with pockets, white shoes, gaiters, and linen breeches, an enormous black flap hat turned up on the side in a point or horn. The young man wears the point over the ear, the married turns it behind, and the widower in front. We reached the Bourg de Batz in time for vespers, and had an opportunity of seeing the people in their Sunday dress. The men wear three or four cloth waistcoats, all of different lengths, so as to let the various colours, red, white, and blue, with which they are bound, appear one above the other in tiers, a muslin turnover collar, full plaited breeches of fine cloth tied at the knee by garters of floating ribbon, white woollen stockings with worked clocks and light yellow shoes, their flap hats ornamented with a roll of chenille of varied From Escoublac begins the large extent of salt-pans in colours. which consist the riches of this country. They reach to Batz and Le Croisic, the peninsula which forms this district having formerly been an island which gradually has been transformed into a marsh.

These salt-pans, cut out into small squares, have the appearance of one great chess-board, interspersed with occasional hamlets and woods. The working of them employs the whole population of the district.

They consist of large basins, dug at different depths, into which the water of the sea is introduced, and are divided into squares called "œillets." The salt-water is turned upon the marsh by canals styled "étiers," edged with narrow paths or roads called "bossis," elevated, some of Paludier of the Bourg de Batz, in his working dress and them, three or four feet above the marsh; on these the wedding dress newly collected salt is generally laid. The water passes by a subterranean conduit, the "coëf," into the The headdress of the women is singular and most "vasière," where the first evaporation takes place; and intricate. The hair, in two rolls, twisted round with white then successively into the "cobiers," "fares," and tape, forms a kind of coronet across their heads; over "adernemètres," until it flows finally into the "œillets," this, a piece of net is drawn tight, forming a sort of cap, where the salt is definitively formed. Each "œillet" is describing a peak behind, and crossing in front like a about 20 feet by 30. The heat of the sun and the wind handkerchief. effect the evaporation, which the paludier assists by stirring the water from time to time. The salt which forms 15

The dress consists of several petticoats of cloth plaited, Formerly the salt was distributed over the adjacent red body, turned-up sleeves, and large coloured bibs or provinces by means of "saulniers," the journeymen plastrons which they call "pièces," of the same stuff as labourers of the paludiers. Dressed in their picturesque their dresses. The girls' aprons are plain, without costume, with a train of mules, whose tinkling bells pockets, but the women's are of coloured silk, some of a announced their arrival, the saulnier was welcomed in rich brocade. A shawl with fringed border completes the every village where he sold his salt or exchanged it for costume. Some of the women had their heads and other merchandize. "Le sucre des pauvres," as salt has shoulders wrapped up in a triangular, black, shaggy been aptly called, was severely taxed under the old sheepskin mantle; these were widows. régime; distributions of the "sel royale" were yearly made by the Government among the gentry of the provinces, At the inn where we alighted, they keep the splendid but the poor, who had no such privileges, severely felt costumes worn by the people at weddings and other the oppression, and smuggling was consequently great occasions; and, by paying them for their trouble, extensively carried on, and the "faux saulnier," with his they will put them on for inspection. The bride's double bag across his shoulders, secretly sold salt upon costumes are of great magnificence; they array which the gabelle had not been paid. With a faux themselves in three different dresses on their wedding- saulnier originated the great peasant rising in Brittany, day. First, a gown of white velvet, with apron of moire the Chouan war; a war to which Napoleon said, "All antique; secondly, one of violet velvet; and the third preceding wars have been but games." Jean, father of equally costly. Embroidered sleeves, the "pièce" of cloth the four brothers Cottereau, was a maker of wooden of gold, the petticoats looped up with a wide sash, shoes, and lived in a forest near Laval (Maine). From his embroidered in gold, and gold clocks to the stockings. solitary life he had acquired such sombre, wild, melancholy habits, that people gave him the name of We were shown a state bed, or "lit de mariage," a tall Chouan, Maine patois for Chat-huant, and his family four-post, painted red, with green reps tester and received the sobriquet long before the insurrection of curtains, embroidered with yellow chenille. The great 1792. Jean Cottereau was the most celebrated faux sign of wealth is to have the bedding reach to the top of saulnier of Maine; he had accidentally killed a revenue the bedstead. To effect this, the base is formed of officer in one of his encounters, and his heroic mother bundles of vine-stalks, over which is spread the straw, made a journey to Versailles, barefooted, "sur le cuir de and when this scaffolding has been raised some feet, a ses pieds," to obtain his pardon. Jean's master and paillasse is placed over it, then the feather-bed, so that it patron was guillotined, his two sisters shared the same literally requires a ladder to ascend to the top of this fate, and one of his brothers died of his wounds, and his mountain of bedding, and then it is difficult to crawl into body was disinterred by the Revolutionists. These it. There were a bolster and two pillows covered with personal wrongs, the treatment of the King, the velvet, which, with the sheets, were all trimmed with a interdiction of the Catholic religion, its processions, its kind of lace or cutwork. bells, the persecution of its ministers, all goaded the Breton peasantry to revolt; and Jean was the first to fire The houses are solidly built of granite, and slated; the a gun against a Republican at the cry of "Vive le Roi." windows large. The furniture is good, generally The rising began with a few peasants, armed with a gun comprising a well-waxed carved oak armoire, upon or a stick, dressed in short breeches open at the knee, which are arranged earthenware plates of various with leather gaiters, and coloured garters; their long hair colours. streaming over the shoulders, their heads covered with a wide-brimmed hat, or brown or red cap, sabots tipped The paludiers of Batz preserve their original type distinct with iron, and, in cold weather, a loose coat of goatskin. from the peasants of the environs; and form, like the The Chouans assembled in small bands and attacked Jews, a separate people, intermarrying among the Republicans at night in ambuscade, and when they themselves, retaining their own peculiar manners and had killed a few "Bleus" disappeared among the corn- customs. They are supposed to descend from a Saxon fields or the furze-bushes. Simple peasants, they fought colony. The paludier is tall in stature; their women against the Republicans in defence of the altar and the remarkable for their fair complexions, which contrast throne. Their "commandements" ran thus:— strongly with their sunburnt neighbours. They are loyal and devout, true to their word, courageous and enduring; “Ton Dieu, ton Roy, tu serviras though the paludier is miserably poor, from the Jusqu’à la mort fidèlement. oppressiveness of the salt-tax, he never complains. Docile à tes chefs tu seras, Begging is unknown. Their food consists of rye bread, Afin de vaincre surement. porridge of black corn, potatoes, and shellfish. They are Sobre et discret te montreras, sober, and drink wine in small quantities. Buvant peu, parlant rarement; De ton chef jamais n’agiras Attendant le commandement; Violemment rien ne prendras, 16

Mais en payant exactement. Age et sexe respecteras, The chapel of St. Goustan, on the edge of the harbour, Etant soldat et non brigand. is singularly built; its western gable perched upon a little Les comités corrigeras, rock, half of which is inside and half outside the building. Et les mouchards chrétiennement; The church is no longer open for Divine service; but the Né Breton, tu n’oublieras, peasant-girl who desires to know if she will be married Afin d’agir loyalement. this year, tries to pass a pin through the bars of the Dans le succès clement seras; northern window without touching the wall. On the Dans le malheur, ferme et constant. opposite side of the estuary are Périac and La Turbale, Chaque jour ton Dieu tu prieras; both seats of the sardine fishery. Returning the way we Que peux tu sans son bras puissant?” came, we stopped at the Plage Valentin, another bathing-place in a pretty little bay; with dressing-rooms Such were the first Chouans: they had no organisation and a small Etablissement. An omnibus conveys the until they followed Larochejaquelin and the Vendean bathers from Le Croisic, for two sous. The sea looks army to Granville, and accompanied them in their more inviting here and at Poulignan than at Le Croisic, retreat; when their numbers were materially increased where there is so much seaweed in the harbour. We and their character completely changed by the deserters returned through Batz; the cathedral tower of Saint and brigands, who joined and eventually succeeded the Aubin at Guérande is to be seen at a great distance, and peasantry. is a prominent object in the scenery; the whole country is covered with salt-pans. Guérande stands on a height, The church of Batz is of cut stone. It has a square tower, and turning back, the view of the whole district is most surmounted by a cupola steeple, which with that of Le extensive. We passed through Saillé, where Duke John Croisic serves as a landmark to vessels having to steer IV. married Joan of Navarre, afterwards the second wife between the two dangerous rocks Le Four, in front of Le of Henry of Lancaster. Croisic, and Les Blanches, situated near the mouth of the Loire. Guérande, built on a vine-covered granite slope, is a singular old feudal town of the fifteenth century. It was The choir is inclined, like that of St. Pol and others in fortified by Duke John V., and is nearly surrounded by Brittany. On one of the bosses in the interior is a granite walls, with ten towers and four old gateways, grotesque carving of a man torn to pieces by the seven placed at the cardinal points of the compass. St. Michel, capital sins. On others are the Santa Veronica, the Good the principal gate, or rather a fortress, is flanked by two Shepherd, Ste. Barbara, &c. Near the church are the high towers, and contains the prison, archives, and hôtel pretty ruins of the chapel of Notre Dame-du-Mûrier. de ville. A moat formerly surrounded the walls; but it has long been filled in, and boulevards substituted. From the We drove on to Le Croisic, in Breton, "Little Cross;" so battlements hang festoons of honeysuckle and ivy, and called from the small chapel of the Crucifix, built to the moat is full of the yellow iris and water-lilies; commemorate the baptism by St. Felix, Bishop of nevertheless, Guérande has an austere, sombre aspect. Nantes, in the sixth century, of the Saxon colony who There is a fine terrace walk, called the Mail, occupied the peninsula. Le Croisic was one of the first commanding a view of the whole country over towns in Brittany which received Christianity, and bears Poulignan, Batz, and Le Croisic—a tented plain of salt. for its arms a cross between four ermines. Along the road-side are cisterns or wells dug in the sand, and girls The church of St. Aubin has Romanesque columns, with were filling with water the classical stone pitchers they grotesque capitals. In one, two persons are sawing a carried upon their heads—quite an Eastern picture, third, stretched upon a wheel. On the left of the double- suggestive of Rebecca and the damsels of her country. arched porch, is a pulpit outside the church, and there is Le Croisic is almost surrounded by the sea, low, and some good painted glass within. Notre Dame Blanche, a without shelter, which renders it cold, damp, and chapel of the fourteenth century, is a pretty little building exposed to the winds; turf is almost the only fuel used. with stone pulpit and a sculptured group of Notre Dame- de-la-Salette with the two peasant children of Alsace. It is much frequented as a watering-place, and has an Etablissement. It is also a sea-port, with a rocky entrance to the harbour, and the dangerous rock with its lighthouse, called Le Four, extending for a league in * The late Vicomte Walsh has written “Gilles de front. The inhabitants of Le Croisic are principally Bretagne,” and other novels, will all a Breton nationality. engaged in the sardine fishery, and the curing of these His son, the present representative of the family, fish consumes much of the salt of the marshes. The occupies the beautiful Château of Chaumont on the people complain this year they have no large orders for Loire, devolved to him by right of his accomplished wife, sardines, and there is but little white salt. the widow of the Comte d’Aramon.

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BRO NEVEZ 144 December 2017

ISSN 0895 3074

CONTENTS page

State of the Breton Language 1 - 4

A Project to Support a Monument to Nominoë 4

Breizh Amerika now active in San Francisco 4 - 5

Heard of, but not heard – 22 New CDs from Brittany 5 – 7

A New Book About Breton music – Desi Wilkinson, Call to the Dance 7 - 8

ABER Literary Review: 8 The garden of languages by Jorj Abherve-Gwegen

A Few Notable Bretons from the 19th and Early 20th Century: 8 - 10 Abeozen, Loeiz Andouard, Roparz Hemon

Deep Inside A Breton Skull 54: The old woman of Broceliande 10 - 13 By Jean-Pierre Le Mat

Travel in Brittany in 1869: Mrs. Bury Palliser. Brittany and its byways 13 – 17

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